Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Swift and powerful, this apex predator dives at speeds of up to 240 mph, making it the fastest animal on Earth.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Peregrine Falcon is a striking raptor with a blue-grey back, barred white underparts, and a black head with distinctive facial markings. It has a hooked beak and powerful yellow legs with sharp talons.

Females are often darker than males but otherwise very similar in plumage. However, they are noticeably larger than males, often by up to 30%.

Juveniles have brown upperparts and streaked underparts, gradually moulting into adult plumage over their first year. Young birds are also streaked rather than barred below and have blueish (not yellow) skin around their eyes and the base of their bill.

Size

Length

34cm to 58cm

Wingspan

74cm to 120cm

Weight

330g to 1.5kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Blue Grey

Secondary Colour

White Black

Beak Colour

Black Grey Yellow

Leg Colour

Yellow

Special Accolade

Fastest Flying Bird

Recorded as the fastest bird in level flight

Record: 389 km/h (242 mph) diving speed

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Peregrine Falcon can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Peregrine Falcon can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Peregrine Falcon can be found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Peregrine Falcons have a nearly worldwide distribution, absent only from Antarctica. They inhabit a wide range of environments, from Arctic tundra to tropical forests and, increasingly, urban areas.

They are right at home in many modern cities where rooftops and ledges make ideal nest sites, and feral Rock Doves provide a year-round food source.

In North America, they breed across Alaska and northern Canada, with populations in the western mountains and along both coasts. European populations are found from the UK to Russia, while they also occur across Australia and New Zealand.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 3,300 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Arctic, Subtropical, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Peregrine Falcon. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons